Teemu Selänne returns to Anaheim

Prolific scorer now recovered from knee problems; believes Mighty Ducks could go all the way to Stanley Cup

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Hockey winger Teemu Selänne's NHL career is to continue, fairly predictably as it happens, with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. The 35-year-old free agent and Anaheim have agreed a one-year contract worth USD 1 million. Selänne played for Anaheim earlier from 1996-2001, and is the second-leading scorer in the team's history, collecting 225 goals and 257 assists in 394 games..
      The player's motives in returning to the club seem not to be financial as much as personal: his family will not have to move and his children can continue to attend a familar school, Selänne explained.
      At the same time, Selänne is rejoining a useful side, whose roster this season includes Russian Sergei Fedorov and the Niedermayer brothers, Scott and Robin. Anaheim made it to the final of the Stanley Cup two years ago, and Selänne believes they have a shot again this season, especially after the rule-changes that have occurred in the North American game.
     
The "Finnish Flash" will not by any means be among the biggest earners on the Mighty Ducks roster, but says he has no qualms about earning his place in the team.
      Selänne burst onto the NHL scene in his rookie year of 1992-93, scoring a dizzying 76+56=132.
      He has been a prolific scorer throughout his career in the NHL, but knee problems have slowed him down of late, and his most recent posting - to the star-studded but ultimately ineffective Colorado Avalanche - saw him score only 16+16 in 78 outings.
     
After an operation to his left knee last September, the injuries should be behind him, and he is looking forward to regaining the speed that brought his nickname and kept the scoreboard ticking over.
      During the NHL lock-out, Selänne was one of those Finnish players who did not ply his trade anywhere, although he was in fact registered with Helsinki Jokerit. He was to join the Finnish League team in earnest in the spring, but his knee had not recovered fully from surgery at the time.


Links:
  NHL: Teemu Selänne

Helsingin Sanomat